Image sensing apparatus and control method thereof

ABSTRACT

When image shooting is performed in a mode that records plural images in response to a single shooting instruction and deletion is instructed on a shot-image confirmation screen that displays the shot image data immediately after the shooting, the plural image data generated by the same shooting instruction are all collectively deleted. On the contrary, in a playback mode, when deletion is instructed to one of the plural image data shot by the same shooting instruction, only the one image that has been instructed for deletion is deleted. This feature improves usability of the image sensing apparatus capable of recording plural images in response to a single shooting instruction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/335,143,filed Jan. 19, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an image sensing apparatus, and moreparticularly, to an image managing method of an image sensing apparatuswhich is capable of plural image recording in response to a singleshooting instruction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recent years have seen advancement in intelligent features of imagesensing apparatuses utilizing image sensing devices, e.g., digital stillcameras, digital video cameras, and so on. Since these image sensingapparatuses process images as digital data, shot images can be recordedwith various effects.

Some of these image sensing apparatuses comprise the function forgenerating and recording plural image files in response to a singleshooting operation, e.g., a bracket function where plural images arephotographed while slightly changing an exposure or a white balance in asingle shooting operation.

In a conventional image sensing apparatus, plural image data files thatare generated and recorded in a single shooting operation utilizing thebracket function are managed in the same manner as other image datafiles that are generated and recorded in a normal shooting operation.

Usually plural images generated in a single shooting operation arerelated. For instance, plural images photographed by the bracketfunction basically have exactly or substantially the same angle of view,although they may have different tints. Therefore, in some cases it isconvenient to manage these plural images collectively.

However, in a conventional image sensing apparatus, for instance, in acase where a user wishes to delete all the three bracketed shots, it isnecessary to switch the apparatus to, e.g., a playback mode, andindividually select and delete the three images, as similar to the caseof deleting three normally shot images, thus is inconvenient to theuser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-describedproblem of the conventional art, and has as its object to provide auser-friendly image sensing apparatus and control method thereof whichcan improve management of plural images that have been shot in a singleshooting instruction.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided animage sensing apparatus having a single-image shooting mode forgenerating single image data in response to a single shootinginstruction, and a plural-image shooting mode for generating pluralimage data in response to a single shooting instruction, comprising: adisplay control unit adapted to display shot image data immediatelyafter shooting; a detection unit adapted to detect existence or absenceof a delete instruction during displaying of the shot image data; and adeletion unit adapted to delete, upon detection of a delete instruction,only the shot image data being displayed if the shot image data beingdisplayed is generated by shooting in the single-image shooting mode,and deletes the shot image data being displayed as well as other imagedata generated by shooting in the plural-image shooting mode if the shotimage data being displayed is generated by shooting in the plural-imageshooting mode.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided acontrol method of an image sensing apparatus having a single-imageshooting mode for generating single image data in response to a singleshooting instruction, and a plural-image shooting mode for generatingplural image data in response to a single shooting instruction,comprising: a display step of displaying shot image data immediatelyafter shooting; a detection step of detecting existence or absence of adelete instruction during displaying of the shot image data; and adeletion step of deleting, upon detection of a delete instruction, onlythe shot image data being displayed if the shot image data beingdisplayed is generated by shooting in the single-image shooting mode,and deleting the shot image data being displayed as well as other imagedata generated by shooting in the plural-image shooting mode if the shotimage data being displayed is generated by shooting in the plural-imageshooting mode.

According to the image sensing apparatus of the present invention, in acase where a user instructs deletion on a shot-image confirmation screenimmediately after a shooting instruction with respect to plural imagesgenerated in response to a single shooting instruction, all the pluralimages recorded in the shooting operation are collectively deleted. Byvirtue of this feature, when a user wishes to cancel the shooting, e.g.,a case where the result is different from what the user has expected,the user only needs to give a delete instruction on the shot-imageconfirmation screen to collectively delete all the plural imagesrecorded in the shooting operation. It is no longer necessary to switchthe apparatus to the playback mode and delete plural images one by one,as it was conventionally necessary.

Other objects and advantages besides those discussed above shall beapparent to those skilled in the art from the description of a preferredembodiment of the invention which follows. In the description, referenceis made to accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof, and whichillustrate an example of the various embodiments of the invention. Suchexample, however, is not exhaustive of the various embodiments of theinvention, and therefore reference is made to the claims which followthe description for determining the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a construction of adigital camera, serving as an image sensing apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an externalappearance of the image sensing apparatus according to the embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart describing a single-image shooting operation inthe image sensing apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart describing a plural-image shooting operation inthe image sensing apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram on image data writing by the imagesensing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart describing an operation in a playback mode of theimage sensing apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 7 is a view showing a shot-image confirmation screen displayed onthe image sensing apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described indetail in accordance with the accompanying drawings.

The following embodiments provide descriptions on an example applyingthe present invention to a digital still camera which serves as anexample of an image sensing apparatus. However, the present invention isnot limited to a digital still camera, but is applicable to an arbitraryimage sensing apparatus (e.g., a digital video camera and a digitalstill camera) which records images as electric signals or digital data.Furthermore, the present invention is also applicable to an arbitraryapparatus which can incorporate or utilize such image sensing apparatus,for instance, a data processing apparatus having an image sensingfunction (e.g., a personal computer) or a portable terminal having animage sensing function (e.g., a mobile telephone).

<Description on Configuration>

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a construction of adigital still camera (hereinafter simply referred to as a digitalcamera) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A digital camera 100 is configured to shoot an object image through anoptical system (image sensing lens) 10. The optical system 10 may be ofa zoom lens, thereby providing an optical zoom function. The digitalcamera 100 may further include an electronic zoom function, where animage sensed by an image sensing device 14 is enlarged by imageprocessing. Note that in some cases the digital camera 100 comprisesonly one of the optical zoom function or the electronic zoom function.Furthermore, as seen in a single lens reflex camera, the optical system10 may be exchangeable.

The optical zoom function is realized by driving amagnification-variable lens of the optical system 10 using a drivingmechanism of the optical system 10 or a driving mechanism provided onthe main unit of the digital camera 100.

A light beam (light beam incident upon the angle of view of the lens)from an object that goes through the optical system (image sensing lens)10 passes through an opening of a shutter 12 having a diaphragmfunction, and forms an optical image of the object on the image sensingsurface of the image sensing device 14 (e.g., a CCD sensor or a CMOSsensor). The image sensing device 14 converts the optical image toanalog image signals and outputs the signals to an A/D converter 16. TheA/D converter 16 converts the analog image signals to digital imagesignals (image data). The image sensing device 14 and the A/D converter16 are controlled by clock signals and control signals provided by atiming generator 18. The timing generator 18 is controlled by a memorycontroller 22 and a system controller 50.

An image processor 20 performs image processing, such as pixelinterpolation and color conversion, on the image data supplied from theA/D converter 16 or the image data supplied from the memory controller22. Moreover, the image processor 20 performs various calculations basedon the sensed image data, and supplies the calculated results to thesystem controller 50. The data obtained by these calculations are usedin through-the-lens (TTL) auto focus (AF) processing, auto exposure (AE)processing, and EF (automatic light control using pre-flash) processing.The system controller 50 controls an exposure controller 40 and adistance measurement controller (AF controller) 42 based on thecalculation results, thereby realizing the automatic exposure andautomatic focusing functions. Furthermore, the image processor 20 alsoexecutes TTL auto white balance (AWB) processing based on the sensedimage data.

The memory controller 22 controls the A/D converter 16, the timinggenerator 18, the image processor 20, an image display memory 24, a D/Aconverter 26, a memory 30, and a compression/decompression circuit 32.

The image data outputted by the A/D converter 16 is written in the imagedisplay memory 24 or the memory 30 through the image processor 20 andthe memory controller 22, or only through the memory controller 22.Note, before writing the image data in the image display memory 24, theimage data is appropriately thinned out in accordance with theresolution of the display comprised in the image display unit 28. Theimage data written in the image display memory 24 is converted to analogsignals by the D/A converter 26, and displayed by the image display unit28. The display of the image display unit 28 is configured with a TFT,an LCD or the like.

By sequentially displaying sensed images on the image display unit 28,an electronic view finder (EVF) function is realized. The display of theimage display unit 28 can arbitrarily be turned on or off in accordancewith a command from the system controller 50. Turning off the displaycan largely reduce the power consumption of the digital camera 100.

The memory 30 is used for storing still images or moving images thathave been shot. The memory 30 has a sufficient storage capacity andread/write speed for storing a predetermined number of still images orpredetermined time of moving images. By virtue of this, high-speedlarge-amount image data writing can be performed in the memory 30 in acase of panoramic shooting or serial shooting where plural still imagesare serially shot. Furthermore, the memory 30 can also be used as aworking area of the system controller 50.

The compression/decompression circuit 32 compresses or decompressesimage data by, e.g., adaptive discrete cosine transformation (ADCT). Thecompression/decompression circuit 32 may be configured to performcompression or decompression processing on the image data read out ofthe memory 30 and write the processed image data in the memory 30.

The exposure controller 40 controls the shutter 12 having a diaphragmfunction based on the data supplied from the system controller 50. Theexposure controller 40 may also have a flash exposure compensationfunction by linking up with a flash (flash emission device) 48. Theflash 48 has an AF auxiliary light projection function and a flashexposure compensation function.

The distance measurement controller 42 controls a focusing lens of theoptical system 10 based on the data supplied from the system controller50. A zoom controller 44 controls zooming of the optical system 10. Abarrier controller 46 controls the operation of a barrier 102 to protectthe optical system 10.

The system controller 50, such as a CPU, controls the overall digitalcamera 100 by executing a program stored in a memory 52. The systemcontroller 50 includes an image processing unit 50 a which executesprocessing for rendering an object (object to be displayed), indicativeof image sensing parameters and/or the state of image sensing apparatus,displayed on the image display unit 28.

The memory 52 stores constants, variables, and programs for operation ofthe system controller 50, as well as object data for displaying anobject on the image display unit 28. Object data may typically bewritten in the memory 52 before shipment of the digital camera 100.After shipment of the digital camera 100, the object data may berewritten by a user based on data downloaded through a telecommunicationline or data provided to a user in a recording medium. The object datamay also be rewritten at the service center or the like.

A display device 54, e.g., an LCD or an LED, and a sound source 55,e.g., a speaker, output operating statuses, messages and the like byusing texts, images, sound and the like in correspondence with executionof a program in the system controller 50. One or plural display devices54 are provided at an easily recognizable positions near, e.g., anoperation unit 70. Part of the display device 54 is provided within theoptical finder 104.

Information displayed on the display device 54 includes, e.g.,indication of single shot/serial shot, a self-timer, a compression rate,the number of recorded pixels, the number of recorded images, the numberof recordable images, a shutter speed, an f-stop value, and exposurecompensation. Besides, the information may include indication of flashemission, red-eye reduction, macro image sensing, a buzzer-set state, atimer battery level, a battery level, an error state, information usingplural digit numbers, and the attached/detached status of recordingmedia 200 and 210. Furthermore, the information may include indicationof communication I/F operation, date and time, the connection statuswith external computers, a focus state, a camera-ready status, a camerashake warning, a flash charge state, and a recording medium operatingstate. Part or all of the above information may be displayed within theoptical finder 104.

A non-volatile memory 56 is an electrically erasable and recordablememory such as an EEPROM. The aforementioned object data may be storedin the non-volatile memory 56.

A mode dial 60, shutter switches 62 and 64, an image display ON/OFFswitch 66, a flash setting button 68, and an operation unit 70constitute an operation part for inputting various operationinstructions to the system controller 50. The operation part is realizedby a single or plural combinations of buttons, switches, dials, touchpanels, pointing devices using line-of-sight detection, voicerecognition devices, and the like.

Hereinafter concrete descriptions of the operation part are provided.

The mode dial 60 is a switch for selecting various function modes suchas a power OFF mode, an automatic shooting mode, a shooting mode, apanoramic shooting mode, a reproduction mode, a multi-imagereproduction/deletion mode, and a PC connection mode.

The first shutter switch (SW1) 62 is turned ON by halfway operation(half-stroke) of a shutter button 310. This instructs the systemcontroller 50 to start the operations of AF processing, AE processing,AWB processing, EF processing or the like.

The second shutter switch (SW2) 64 is turned ON by complete operation(full-stroke) of the shutter button 310. As a result, the systemcontroller 50 starts a series of processing (shooting) including thefollowing: processing to read image signals from the image sensingdevice 14, convert the image signals into image data by the A/Dconverter 16, process the image data by the image processor 20, andwrite the data in the memory 30 through the memory controller 22; andprocessing to read the image data from the memory 30, compress the imagedata by the compression/decompression circuit 32, and write thecompressed image data in the recording medium 200 or 210.

A zoom operation unit 65 is an operation unit operated by a user forchanging the angle of view (zooming magnification or shootingmagnification). The operation unit 65 can be configured with, e.g., aslide-type or lever-type operation member, and a switch or a sensor fordetecting the operation of the member.

The image display ON/OFF switch 66 sets ON/OFF of the image display unit28. In shooting an image with the optical finder 104, the display of theimage display unit 28 configured with a TFT, an LCD or the like may beturned off to cut the power supply for the purpose of power saving.

The flash setting button 68 sets and changes the flash operation mode.In this embodiment, the settable modes include: auto, flash-on, red-eyereduction auto, and flash-on (red-eye reduction). In the auto mode,flash is automatically emitted in accordance with the lightness of anobject. In the flash-on mode, flash is always emitted whenever shootingis performed. In the red-eye reduction auto mode, flash is automaticallyemitted in accordance with lightness of an object, and in case of flashemission the red-eye reduction lamp is always emitted whenever shootingis performed. In the flash-on (red-eye reduction) mode, the red-eyereduction lamp and flash are always emitted.

The operation unit 70 comprises various buttons, touch panels and so on.More specifically, the operation unit 70 includes a menu button, a setbutton, a macro selection button, a multi-image reproduction/repagingbutton, a single-shot/serial shot/self-timer selection button, a forward(+) menu selection button, a backward (−) menu selection button, and thelike. Furthermore, the operation unit 70 may include a forward (+)reproduction image search button, a backward (−) reproduction imagesearch button, an image shooting quality selection button, an exposurecompensation button, a date/time set button, a compression mode switchand the like.

The compression mode switch is provided for setting or selecting acompression rate in JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group) compression,recording in a RAW mode and the like. In the RAW mode, analog imagesignals outputted by the image sensing device are digitalized (RAW data)as it is and recorded.

Note in the present embodiment, RAW data includes not only the dataobtained by performing A/D conversion on the photoelectrically converteddata from the image sensing device, but also the data obtained byperforming lossless compression on A/D converted data. Moreover, RAWdata indicates data maintaining output information from the imagesensing device without a loss. For instance, RAW data is A/D convertedanalog image signals which have not been subjected to white balanceprocessing, color separation processing for separating luminance signalsfrom color signals, or color interpolation processing. Furthermore, RAWdata is not limited to digitalized data, but may be of analog imagesignals obtained from the image sensing device.

According to the present embodiment, the JPEG compression mode includes,e.g., a normal mode and a fine mode. A user of the digital camera 100can select the normal mode in a case of placing a high value on the datasize of a shot image, and can select the fine mode in a case of placinga high value on the quality of a shot image.

In the JPEG compression mode, the compression/decompression circuit 32reads image data written in the memory 30 to perform compression at aset compression rate, and records the compressed data in, e.g., therecording medium 200.

In the RAW mode, analog image signals are read in units of line inaccordance with the pixel arrangement of the color filter of the imagesensing device 14, and image data written in the memory 30 through theA/D converter 16 and the memory controller 22 is recorded in therecording medium 200 or 210.

Note that the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment hasa plural-image shooting mode, where plural image data can be recorded inresponse to a single shooting instruction by a user. Image datarecording in this mode includes image data recording typified by an autobracket mode, where shooting parameters such as white balance andexposure are changed step by step. It also includes recording of imagedata having different post-shooting image processing contents, forinstance, recording of plural image data having different data formssuch as recording in a JPEG form or a RAW form, recording of image datahaving the same form but different compression rates, and recording ofimage data on which predetermined image processing has been performedand has not been performed.

A power controller 80 comprises a power detection circuit, a DC-DCconverter, a switch circuit to select the block to be energized, and thelike. The power controller 80 detects the existence/absence of a powersource, the type of the power source, and a remaining battery powerlevel, controls the DC-DC converter based on the results of detectionand an instruction from the system controller 50, and supplies anecessary voltage to the respective blocks for a necessary period. Apower source 86 is a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or alithium battery, a secondary battery such as an NiCd battery, an NiMHbattery or an Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like. The main unit ofthe digital camera 100 and the power source 86 are connected byconnectors 82 and 84 respectively comprised therein.

The recording media 200 and 210 comprise: recording units 202 and 212that are configured with semiconductor memories, magnetic disks and thelike, interfaces 204 and 214 for communication with the digital camera100, and connectors 206 and 216. The recording media 200 and 210 areconnected to the digital camera 100 through connectors 206 and 216 ofthe media and connectors 92 and 96 of the digital camera 100. To theconnectors 92 and 96, interfaces 90 and 94 are connected. Theattached/detached state of the recording media 200 and 210 is detectedby a recording medium attached/detached state detector 98.

Note that although the digital camera 100 according to the presentembodiment comprises two systems of interfaces and connectors forconnecting the recording media, a single or plural arbitrary numbers ofinterfaces and connectors may be provided for connecting a recordingmedium. Further, interfaces and connectors pursuant to differentstandards may be provided for each system.

For the interfaces 90 and 94 as well as the connectors 92 and 96, cardsin conformity with a standard, e.g., PCMCIA cards, compact flash (CF)(registered trademark) cards and the like, may be used. In this case,connection utilizing various communication cards can realize mutualtransfer/reception of image data and control data attached to the imagedata between the digital camera and other peripheral devices such ascomputers and printers. The communication cards include, for instance, aLAN card, a modem card, a USB card, an IEEE 1394 card, a P1284 card, anSCSI card, and a communication card for PHS or the like.

The optical finder 104 is configured with, e.g., a TTL finder, whichforms an image from the light beam that has gone through the lens 10utilizing prisms and mirrors. By utilizing the optical finder 104, it ispossible to shoot an image without utilizing an electronic view finderfunction of the image display unit 28. The optical finder 104 includesindicators, which constitute part of the display device 54, forindicating, e.g., a focus state, a camera shake warning, a flash chargestate, a shutter speed, an f-stop value, and exposure compensation.

A communication circuit 110 provides various communication functionssuch as USB, IEEE 1394, P1284, SCSI, modem, LAN, RS232C, and wirelesscommunication. To the communication circuit 110, a connector 112 can beconnected for connecting the digital camera 100 to other devices, or anantenna can be provided for wireless communication.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an externalappearance of the digital camera 100. Note in FIG. 2, unnecessarycomponents are omitted for description purpose. The aforementionedoperation unit 70 comprises, e.g., buttons and switches 301 to 311 shownin FIG. 2. A user operates these buttons and switches 301 to 311 forturning ON/OFF the power of the digital camera 100, for setting,changing or confirming the shooting parameters, for confirming thestatus of the camera, and for confirming shot images.

The power button 311 is provided to start or stop the digital camera100, or to turn ON/OFF the main power of the digital camera 100. Themenu button 302 is provided to display the setting menu such as shootingparameters and operation modes of the digital camera 100, and to displaythe status of the digital camera 100. The menu has, e.g., a hierarchicalstructure, and each hierarchy includes selectable items or items whosevalues are variable.

A delete button 301 is pressed for deleting an image displayed on aplayback mode or a shot-image confirmation screen. In the presentembodiment, the shot-image confirmation screen (a so-called quick reviewscreen) is provided to display a shot image on the image display unit 28immediately after shooting for confirming the shot result. Furthermore,the present embodiment is constructed in a way that the shot-imageconfirmation screen is displayed as long as a user keeps pressing theshutter button 310 after the user instructs shooting by shutter buttondepression.

An enter button 303 is pressed for selecting a mode or an item. When theenter button 303 is pressed, the system controller 50 sets the mode oritem selected at this time. The display ON/OFF button 66 is used forselecting displaying or non-displaying of photograph informationregarding the shot image, and for switching the image display unit 28 tobe functioned as an electronic view finder.

A left button 305, a right button 306, an up button 307, and a downbutton 308 may be used for the following purposes, for instance,changing an option (e.g., items, images) selected from plural options,changing an index position that specifies a selected option, andincreasing or decreasing numeric values (e.g., correction value, dateand time).

Half-stroke of the shutter button 310 instructs the system controller 50to start, for instance, AF processing, AE processing, AWB processing, EFprocessing or the like. Full-stroke of the shutter button 310 instructsthe system controller 50 to perform shooting.

The zoom operation unit 65 is operated by a user for changing the angleof view (zooming magnification or shooting magnification) as mentionedabove.

A recording/playback selection switch 312 is used for switching arecording mode to a playback mode, or switching a playback mode to arecording mode. Note, in place of the above-described operation system,a dial switch may be adopted or other operation systems may be adopted.

<Operation in Single-Image Shooting>

Hereinafter, an operation of the digital camera 100 according to thepresent embodiment is described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart describing the single-image shooting in which oneimage data file is generated and recorded in a single shootinginstruction. This processing is stored as a program in the memory 52,and executed while the system controller 50 controls respective blocksas necessary.

The digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment comprises thefunction (quick review function) for immediately displaying a shot imageon the image display unit 28 after shooting to confirm the shot result.Assume herein that the quick review function is normally activated.

In step S10, the system controller 50 waits for an input of a shootingstart instruction through the operation unit 70. In this step,processing until the half-stroke of the shutter button 310 (turning ONthe first shutter switch 62) is performed. When the shutter button 310is pressed completely and the second shutter switch 64 is turned ON, thesystem controller 50 determines that a shooting start instruction isinputted. In step S15, shooting in accordance with various setting isperformed. In this stage, shot image data may be stored in the memory 30without being recorded in the recording medium 200 or 210, or may berecorded in the recording medium 200 or 210.

When generation of the shot image data is completed, display processingon the shot-image confirmation screen (quick review screen) isperformed. Normally the quick review is displayed while the shutterbutton 310 is pressed, and also displayed for a predetermined periodafter the shutter button 310 is released. It may also be constructed sothat pressing of a button, e.g., the button 303 which is normally usedfor determination, enables holding of the quick review displaying untila quick review cancellation which is described below is performed. Thequick review cancellation may be realized by half-stroke of the shutterbutton 301 again, or may be realized by another member providedexclusively for cancellation. Further, when deletion is executed duringquick review, the quick review ends as a matter of course. The memorycontroller 22 reads image data that has just been shot from the memory30 or the recording medium 200 or 210, and writes the data in the imagedisplay memory 24. The image processing unit 50 a of the systemcontroller 50 writes graphical user interface image data in the imagedisplay memory 24 to allow a user to input instructions including imagedeletion and storage on the shot-image confirmation screen (quick reviewscreen) (step S20).

FIG. 7 shows an example of the shot-image confirmation screen. Thisexample shows an image 400 which has just been shot, a delete button 401and a storage button 402 which are the graphical user interface forinstructing deletion and storage.

In a case where a user instructs deletion of the image by, e.g.,pressing the delete button 301, or by selecting the delete button 401 onthe screen and pressing the enter button 303 (Yes in step S30), deletionprocessing is performed in step S50.

Meanwhile, in a case where deletion is not instructed but the quickreview displaying is cancelled or image storage is instructed by theuser (No in step S30), storage processing is performed in step S40. Astorage instruction is given by selecting the storage button 402 on thescreen and pressing the enter button 303.

In step S50, the system controller controls the memory controller 22 todelete the image data corresponding to the currently displayed imagefrom the memory 30 or the recording medium 200 or 210.

Meanwhile, in step S40, the system controller 50 controls the memorycontroller 22 to read the image data corresponding to the currentlydisplayed image from the memory 30 and record it in the recording medium200 or 210. If the image data corresponding to the currently displayedimage has already been recorded in the recording medium 200 or 210, noparticular operation is performed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, there are several controlmethods as to which timing the image data is recorded as a file in therecording medium 200 or 210. For instance, immediately after theshooting operation in step S15, image data file recording in therecording medium may be started. If the image data file recording is inprogress in step S30 at which deletion is selected, the recordingoperation is terminated; whereas if the recording operation iscompleted, the image data file is deleted actually from the recordingmedium. Alternatively, image data recording in the recording medium isnot performed while the shot-image confirmation screen is displayed, butis started only when image deletion is not selected in step S30.

In any case, in a case where deletion is not instructed on theshot-image confirmation screen, the shot image is recorded. In a casewhere deletion is instructed, the processing method in the process is ofno object as long as the shot image is not recorded.

<Operation in Plural-Image Shooting>

Next, an operation in plural-image shooting of the digital camera 100according to the present embodiment is described with reference to theflowchart in FIG. 4. As mentioned above, the digital camera 100 has aplural-image shooting function that can generate and record plural imagedata files in response to a single shooting instruction. For instance,prior to shooting an image, the camera allows a user to select theplural-image shooting mode or the aforementioned single-image shootingmode by the menu button 302 and the enter button 303. In accordance withthe selection, the processing shown in the flowchart in FIG. 3 or theprocessing shown in the flowchart in FIG. 4 is executed. The processingin these flowcharts is stored in the memory 52 and executed by thesystem controller 50.

The function of plural image data file generation and recording can berealized by plural methods. For instance, the digital camera 100automatically performs serial shooting (release the shutter pluraltimes) in response to a single shooting instruction of a user (fullstroke of the shutter), and plural image data files are generated andrecorded. Alternatively, the digital camera 100 performs single shootingin response to a single shooting instruction of a user, and the imagedata obtained by the shooting (original image data) is subjected to somekind of image processing for generating and recording another imagedata. In this manner, single shooting can generate a group constructedwith a series of plural image data files.

In the present embodiment, as long as plural image data files aregenerated and recorded as a result of single shooting operation by auser, the number of times and the timing the shutter of the digitalcamera 100 is released, and processing performed in the process are notlimited.

In step S10, the system controller 50 waits for a shooting instructionas similar to the single-image shooting mode. When a shootinginstruction is inputted, then in step S16, the system controllerperforms processing for plural-image shooting (shooting and image datageneration) in accordance with a predetermined recording method.

The recording method includes the following:

(1) An image shot with normal shooting parameters and an image shot withdifferent shooting parameters are recorded.

For instance, an auto bracket function corresponds to such recording. Inan auto bracket function, shooting is performed with normal exposure (orwhite balance) and with corrected exposure of ±1 aperture value (or,with an increased/decreased color temperature of white balance by apredetermined value). Also, there is an auto-focus bracket function,where a focus point is shifted in stages while shooting is performedplural times.

(2) Images shot with common shooting parameters, but processed with anormal processing parameter and different processing parameters arerecorded.

Such recording corresponds to recording original image data and anotherimage data obtained by performing predetermined image processing on theoriginal image data (e.g., color processing such as color conversion andcolor enhancement, or filtering such as edge enhancement). It alsocorresponds to recording original image data and another image datahaving different encoding methods and compression rates. Note that imagedata having different white balance can be obtained not only by changingshooting parameters, but also by changing parameters of image processingperformed on the original image data.

In step S21, the system controller 50 displays an image confirmationscreen as similar to the single-image shooting mode. Note in thisembodiment, among the plural image data generated by shooting, imagedata other than the original image data is displayed on the imageconfirmation screen. For instance, in a case where the camera is set torecord original image data as well as color-converted image data whichhas been obtained by converting red portions of the original image datato another color, the image displayed on the shot-image confirmationscreen is the color-converted image data. In a case of auto bracketshooting, the image data displayed on the screen is one of the imagesshot with changed exposure and white balance. In a case where the cameragenerates plural non-original image data files (modified image datafiles), it is possible to set in advance which of the image data filesis to be displayed on the shot-image confirmation screen.

In a case where bracket shooting and color conversion processing areset, the user is normally interested in the corrected or modified imagedata. For this reason, the present embodiment displays modified imagedata immediately after shooting. By virtue of this feature, theprocessing load can be reduced compared to the case of displaying pluralgenerated image data, the time lag between shooting and image displayingcan be shortened, and the image of the user's highest interest can bedisplayed, thus achieving a user-friendlier camera.

Note that, in a case where the up button 307, down button 308, leftbutton 305, or right button 306 is pressed during image displaying onthe shot-image confirmation screen, other modified image data maysequentially be displayed or, if a split screen or a multiple screen isavailable, plural image data may simultaneously be displayed. Theoriginal image data may be included in the sequential displaying or, ifa split screen or a multiple screen is available, plural simultaneousdisplaying.

In a case where deletion is instructed on the shot-image confirmationscreen as mentioned above, the system controller 50 performs deletion instep S51. Herein, plural image data files generated by the plural-imageshooting function are all deleted. There are various methods forspecifying plural image files to be deleted, and any methods can beused. For instance, if the number (n) of generated files of modifiedimage data is known, n+1 image data files inclusive of the originalimage data are deleted in order of newest data. Alternatively, groupidentification data indicative of generation in the same shootingoperation may be recorded in the header at the time of image data filegeneration, and image data files having the same group identificationdata may be searched and deleted. If plural groups constructed withplural data files are displayed, the user selects an image to be deletedby moving a cursor or highlight using the up, down, left, and rightbuttons 305 to 308. By this operation, image data files that constitutethe group including the selected image are all deleted.

As set forth above, according to the present embodiment, the cameradisplays modified image data of the user's highest interest on theshot-image confirmation screen which is displayed immediately aftershooting. When deletion is instructed on the shot-image confirmationscreen, the camera regards that the user highly likely considers theshooting as failure, and deletes all the plural image data generated inthe same shooting.

On the contrary, in a case where deletion is not instructed but quickreview displaying is cancelled, or image storing is instructed by theuser (No in step S30), storage processing is performed in step S41.Image storage instruction can be given by, for instance, pressing theenter button 303 while the storage button 402 is selected on the screen.

In step S41, the system controller 50 controls the memory controller 22to read plural image data, including the currently displayed image, fromthe memory 30 and record them in the recording medium 200 or 210. If theplural image data generated in the plural-image shooting mode havealready been recorded in the recording medium 200 or 210, no particularoperation is performed.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram on recording both the original imagedata and the modified image data which has been subjected to imageprocessing in the digital camera 100 according to the presentembodiment.

The first and second image buffers 31 and 32 are realized by employing,for instance, different areas of the memory 30. Generally in an imagesensing apparatus utilizing an image sensing device, RAW data istemporarily stored in the first image buffer 31, then developing such asadjustment of white balance and colors is performed in accordance withrespective setting of the image sensing apparatus. Thereafter the datais converted to image data in a predetermined compression format, e.g.,JPEG, then developed in the second image buffer 32, and recorded in therecording medium 200 or 210.

As described above, recording image data in the recording medium 200 or210 is performed through the second image buffer 32. Therefore, in acase of recording both the modified image data which has been subjectedto color conversion and white balance correction and the original imagedata which has not been subjected to any modification processing, firstthe modified image data is recorded, thereafter the original image datais developed in the second image buffer and recorded in the recordingmedium 200 or 210.

In other words, data captured by a shooting operation of the imagesensing device 14 is temporarily stored as RAW data in the first imagebuffer 31, and modified image data obtained by performing various imagemodification processing and data compression processing on the RAW datain accordance with the setting is developed in the second image buffer32. Then, the image data developed in the second image buffer 32 isrecorded in the recording medium 200 or 210. When recording of themodified image data is completed, unmodified original image data (whichhas been subjected to regular developing) is developed in the secondimage buffer 32 in a predetermined format based on the RAW data storedin the first image buffer 31, and recorded in the recording medium 200or 210.

Each time shooting is performed, the digital camera 100 internallyperforms the above-described processing plural times, thereby recordingplural images. However, as mentioned above, it is important herein thata delete instruction on the shot-image confirmation screen decidesdeletion of all the plural images or recording of images in therecording medium. Detailed processing within the process, such as themethods of realizing image recording, abandoning the recording,deletion, cancellation of deletion and so forth, may be realized by anymethods. The above description has been provided on a case of recordingplural image data sequentially in the recording medium independent ofinstructions on the shot-image confirmation screen. However, pluralimage buffers equivalent to the second image buffer may be provided.Image data files which are recordable in the recording medium 200 or 210may be stored in the memory 30, and recording of the image data in therecording medium 200 or 210 may be started when no delete instruction isgiven on the shot-image confirmation screen.

<Operation in Playback Mode>

The digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment handlesplural image data, generated in the plural-image shooting mode,collectively with regard to deletion processing on the shot-imageconfirmation screen. Once storage in the recording medium is decided,the data is handled as individual image data without discrimination oforiginal image data or modified image data, as similar to conventionaldata handling.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart describing an operation in a playback mode of thedigital camera 100 according to the present embodiment. The processingin the flowchart is stored in the memory 52 and executed by the systemcontroller 50.

In step S60, the system controller 50 reads thumbnail data of imagesrecorded in, e.g., the recording medium 200, and displays a list ofimages on the image display unit 28. A user employs the up, down, left,and right buttons 305 to 308 as well as enter button 303 to select animage to be displayed from the thumbnails in the list. In accordancewith the instruction, the system controller 50 reads image datacorresponding to the selected thumbnail data from the recording medium200, and displays the image on the entire screen of the image displayunit 28 (step S70).

In this state, if the delete button 301 is pressed, the systemcontroller 50 displays a delete confirmation screen. When deletion isconfirmed, the image data file corresponding to the displayed image datais deleted from the recording medium 200 (step S80).

As described above, in a case where deletion is instructed during imageviewing in the playback mode, only the displayed image is deleted assimilar to a conventional image sensing apparatus.

As has been set forth above, the present embodiment provides an imagesensing apparatus comprising a plural-image shooting function which cangenerate and record plural image data in response to a single shootinginstruction. In a case where deletion is instructed on the shot-imageconfirmation screen which displays images shot by this functionimmediately after shooting, plural image data obtained by the sameshooting operation are all deleted. By virtue of this feature, in a casewhere a user fails in image shooting in the plural-image shooting modeor wishes to cancel the shot images immediately after the shooting, theuser can be saved from the conventional cumbersome operation, that is,switching to a playback mode and repeating delete processing for eachimage, thus usability can be improved.

Furthermore, on the shot-image confirmation screen which displays imagesimmediately after shooting in the plural-image shooting mode, becausemodified image data is displayed instead of original image data, theuser can quickly determine right or wrong of shooting, and necessity ornon-necessity of image storing. Furthermore, since the displayed imageis only one, the time lag between shooting and displaying of theshot-image confirmation screen can be reduced.

Other Embodiment

Although the aforementioned embodiment has not particularly described animage format recorded in the recording medium, the original image dataand modified image data may be recorded in a JPEG format, or RAW datamay be recorded in place of original image data.

In this case, RAW data, parameters for development processing(development parameters) with no modification, and modificationdevelopment parameters for performing development processing includingmodification such as white balance alteration, may be recorded.

Modified or unmodified JPEG image data is incorporated, as developedimage data, in the header of RAW data. Therefore, modified image dataand unmodified image data can be managed in association with each other.However, as long as shooting parameters and developed image data aremanaged in association with each other, they may be managed by othermethods.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present inventioncan be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificembodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Application No.2005-015846 filed Jan. 24, 2005, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

1. An image sensing apparatus having a single-image shooting mode forgenerating single image data in response to a single shootinginstruction, a plural-image shooting mode for generating plural imagedata in response to a single shooting instruction, and a playback modefor viewing shot image data recorded in a recording medium, comprising:a display control unit adapted to display shot image data; a detectionunit adapted to detect existence or absence of a delete instructionduring displaying of the shot image data; and a deletion unit adapted todelete, upon detection of a delete instruction for shot image datadisplayed by said display control unit immediately after shooting in thesingle-shooting mode and the plural-image shooting mode, only the shotimage data being displayed if the shot image data being displayed isgenerated by shooting in the single-image shooting mode, delete the shotimage data being displayed as well as other image data generated byshooting in the plural-image shooting mode if the shot image data beingdisplayed is generated by shooting in the plural-image shooting mode,and delete, upon detection of a delete instruction for shot image datadisplayed by said display control unit in the playback mode, only theone shot image being displayed even if the displayed shot image is oneof the plurality of shot image data generated by shooting in theplural-image shooting mode.
 2. The image sensing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said display control unit displays immediately aftershooting only one image data among a plurality of shot image datagenerated by shooting in the plural-image shooting mode.
 3. The imagesensing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of imagedata generated by shooting in the plural-image shooting mode includesnormal image data which has been shot with a normal shooting parameterand generated by performing normal image processing, and modified imagedata which has been generated by changing at least the shootingparameter or an image processing content from that of the normal imagedata, wherein the image data displayed immediately after shooting is themodified image data.
 4. The image sensing apparatus according to claim3, wherein the shooting parameter is an exposure parameter, focus, orwhite balance.
 5. The image sensing apparatus according to claim 3,wherein the image processing is at least one of encoding, colorprocessing, filtering, and white balance.
 6. The image sensing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said shooting instruction is pressing of ashutter button, and when a shutter button pressing state is maintainedcontinuously from the shooting instruction, said display control unitcontinues the displaying of the shot image data immediately aftershooting.
 7. A control method of an image sensing apparatus having asingle-image shooting mode for generating single image data in responseto a single shooting instruction, a plural-image shooting mode forgenerating plural image data in response to a single shootinginstruction, and a playback mode for viewing shot image data recorded ina recording medium, comprising: a display step of displaying shot imagedata; a detection step of detecting existence or absence of a deleteinstruction during displaying of the shot image data; and a deletionstep of deleting, upon detection of a delete instruction for shot imagedata displayed by said display control step immediately after shootingin the single-shooting mode and the plural-image shooting mode, only theshot image data being displayed if the shot image data being displayedis generated by shooting in the single-image shooting mode, delete theshot image data being displayed as well as other image data generated byshooting in the plural-image shooting mode if the shot image data beingdisplayed is generated by shooting in the plural-image shooting mode,and delete, upon detection of a delete instruction for shot image datadisplayed by said display control step in the playback mode, only theone shot image being displayed even if the displayed shot image is oneof the plurality of shot image data generated by shooting in theplural-image shooting mode.